Buffalo Rock could be source of foul odor in west Homewood, city councilman says

Buffalo Rock could be source of foul odor in west Homewood, city councilman says

City looking at 4th phase of testing to focus on the beverage company

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Updated: 1:54 PM CST Feb 27, 2017

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WEBVTT SARAH: BRAK AND EUNICE.GOOD MORNING.THE HOMEWOOD CITY CUN CYCLE ISGETTING READY TO FIND ANOTHERROUND OF WORK TO FIGURE OUT WHATIS CAUSING THE BAD SMELL IN WESTHOMEWOOD.THIS TIME THE WORK IS GOING TOFOCUS ON BUFFALO ROCK.THIS BAD SMELL WAS FIRSTREPORTED IN OC 2015 AND PEOPLELIVING IN WEST HOMEWOOD SAY THESMELL IS SO BAD AT TIMES ITMAKES THEM SICK.THE CITY HAS CONDUCTED SOMETESTING TO TRY TO NARROW DONETHE SOURCE OF THE SMELL, SO FAR,THEIR TESTING HAS CONCLUDED THEIS SO LIKELY BUFFALO ROCK.WELL, WALTER JONES CITYCOUNCILMAN SAYS HE HOPES THISFOURTH ARE PHASES THE FINALPHASE OF TESTING.>> ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT AREVERY EXCITING IN WEST HOMEWOOD,TO HAVE THE ODOR SITUATION PLUSTHE NOISE AND THAT IS ANOTHERTHING THAT WE ARE WORKINGTHROUGH THAT HAS REALLY NOT BEENCOMPLETELY ADDRESSED.THE CITY OF HOMEWOOD HAS ALREADYSPENT TENS OF THOUSANDS OFDOLLARS TO INVESTIGATE THESOURCE OF THE SMELL IF THEY PASSANOTHER ROUND OF INVESTIGATIONSTONIGHT, THE CITY WOULD HAVESPENT ABOUT $115,000 TO TROY

Buffalo Rock could be source of foul odor in west Homewood, city councilman says

The city of Homewood is narrowing its investigation into the foul odor in West Homewood to the Buffalo Rock plant.

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The Homewood City Council is looking at funding a fourth phase of work to identify the foul odor in West Homewood. According to the proposal, the fourth phase will focus specifically on Buffalo Rock.

West Homewood residents first reported a “sour cheese” odor in the area in October 2015. In the spring of 2016, the Homewood City Council agreed to hire Volatile Analysis Corporation (VAC) to investigate the source of the smell.

"The frustration has been rising because we think that we have taken care of it, but then the odor continues, and it's gotten worse,” Homewood City Councilman Walter Jones said.

After three phases of work, VAC has concluded the source of the foul odor is likely Buffalo Rock. The next phase of work would zero in on the beverage company and its management of odorous compound.

Jones said there have been problems communicating with Buffalo Rock during this process and he thinks further work could improve communication between the city and the company.

“There's been several times that we have not been granted access to the facility and there's been some big delays in terms of getting information back to us,” Jones said.

Buffalo Rock Company President and Chief Operating Officer Matthew Dent denied those claims.

In a statement responding to a request by WVTM 13, Dent said Buffalo Rock has been “fully engaged” in efforts with the city of Homewood.

According to Dent’s statement, Buffalo Rock’s own consultant provided the city a report in December about testing conducted at the plant.

The report reflects that we have already taken steps to address ‘fugitive emissions’ from our plant, and that emissions from our stack have such low odor content that they would have virtually no impact on the neighborhood under the very worst atmospheric conditions.

The city of Homewood has asked Buffalo Rock to provide further information by Tuesday, Feb. 28. Dent said the company intends to comply with the request.

The Homewood City Council is expected to vote on the fourth phase of work at Monday night’s council meeting.

The city has already spent nearly $80,000 to investigate the foul odor in West Homewood. An additional phase of work is expected to cost $36,200.